For the second year in a row, chunky knitted blankets are filling the country’s Instagrams, and the trend for knitting in the interior has haunted me this fall.
I remember when I was studying at the Academy of Design and doing my homework about knitting as one of the trends, I was scrolling through pictures on Pintrest with blankets made from large yarn, but it didn’t even occur to me that you could knit these yourself. It seemed like these were some cool, inaccessible designer pieces.
But soon I began to come across posts on foreign blogs about hand knitting. Shtoa?! With your hands? So it is possible?
It turns out that yes. Very thick yarn is taken and hands are used instead of knitting needles.
Where to buy giant yarn
When I finished last year's fall reading nook project, I set about finding yarn. I searched on the Internet for “thick wool”, “giant plaid” and found strange groups that were engaged in joint purchases in Chinese stores. This didn't inspire confidence in me.
I wanted to trust the photographs, that in the end I would receive what is in the photo in my order, and I would order exactly the amount of yarn that is enough for a blanket of the right size. I reviewed so many sites that spring had already arrived and the project was postponed until autumn.
At the beginning of September, I found the Cozy Store website, which sells knitting yarn. This was what we needed! The store is in Moscow, but the parcel arrived in St. Petersburg in 3 days.
We knit a baby blanket
Every young mother faces the question of how to knit a baby blanket? This issue should be approached with full responsibility. To do this, you need to choose high-quality soft yarn that does not prick and does not cause allergic reactions.
Read here - How to knit stitches: a detailed description of how simple and complex stitches are knitted. 115 photos and videos master class for beginners
It is recommended to carry out the work directly using knitting needles, then the product will turn out soft and airy.
The Internet provides a huge number of photos of knitted blankets for children, after studying which you will choose a beautiful and exclusive option for yourself. This blanket will keep your baby warm in cold weather.
How much yarn do you need for a blanket?
Ooooh, that was the hardest question. I tormented the search engine with this question and for a long time could not find a normal answer. Everything was terribly confusing. Somewhere yarn was measured by weight, somewhere in meters, somewhere in balls. Mom dear!
I didn’t understand anything, I was terribly afraid that I would buy only enough yarn for a blanket for photo shoots - it turns out that on beautiful layouts on Instagram they often use not a full-fledged blanket, but a fake piece of a small blanket, especially for photo shoots - or I would buy so much of it that instead there will be a rug and a carpet.
As a result, I finally figured it out with the “Cozy Store”.
Here are the sizes and required amount of yarn:
- Blanket 80x120 cm – 2 kg
- Blanket 100x150 cm – 3 kg
- Blanket 130x170 cm – 4.5 kg
- Blanket 150x200 cm – 6 kg
For a medium-sized blanket, 3 kilograms of yarn were needed.
All the yarn was in one ball, so I didn't have to tie it and hide the knots while knitting. This volume of yarn produced a blanket measuring 100 by 135 cm (I measured it with a ruler!).
This is exactly what was needed. It's decorative, so I place it at the foot of the bed.
Young and daring producers
The idea of knitting such blankets (and they are knitted by hand) belongs to the young American company Modern Wool . Having opened in 2013, they initially specialized in the production of knitted accessories, mainly handmade and large knitted (scarves, snoods, hats, etc.). Later they added fashionable new items to their range - knitted home textiles : pillows and blankets. Now this company also sells special wool threads for large knitting.
In addition to the “ancestors” of these unusual blankets, small domestic companies and successfully launched startups are involved in their production. They focus on the variety of palettes, shapes and sizes of large knitted blankets for interior decoration. The managers of these companies try to maintain a balance between quality and affordable prices . Anyone could do everything in order to give themselves such pleasure - to purchase an unusual blanket knitted with “Gulliverian” loops.
Photo: surfingbird.ru
How to knit a blanket
I tried to remember the last time I knitted. The mind wandered and got lost in the memories of high school.
I figured that knitting was a skill like riding a bike—you’ll remember it when you need it—and I started looking for instructions on hand knitting. Of what I watched, I liked the Apartment Therapy video the most. No giant knitting needles made of plastic pipes (yes, yes, there is such a thing), no jewelry knitting patterns with your fingers and, most importantly, no instructions for an hour in a boring voice.
It took me watching the video more than once, with pauses and sometimes at slow speed, but these instructions worked.
Initially, I cast on 16 loops on my hand and, yes, my hand was enough. As a result, 16 loops gave the blanket a width of about a meter.
DIY chunky knit blanket
In general, it is quite possible to knit such blankets yourself; all you need to do is acquire thick threads of good quality wool and learn a couple of basic knitting techniques. A small blanket 1.5 by 1.5 meters will require approximately three kilograms of thickly twisted wool and the ability to knit a simple garter stitch.
The easiest and fastest way to order such wool is from a manufacturer that is good in terms of the quality of the materials used and has an adequate pricing policy: https://ajur-shop.ru. If it is quite difficult to find giant knitting needles on sale, you can use your own hands or any long smooth sticks made of wood or plastic for this task; fortunately, there are enough video tutorials on this topic.
How long to knit by time
I knitted the blanket in two batches and spent 1.5 hours on the whole project. This also takes into account the fact that I had to photograph the process. If I didn’t want to share this story on the blog, then I would climb onto the sofa in the evening with a ball of yarn, light candles and knit a blanket in one movie and one evening. Here I am a little jealous of those who don’t have a blog and don’t have to take photos in the process.
Watch the video of how I knitted a blanket.
The finished blanket turned out very beautiful. And this despite the fact that I managed to mess up the knitting a little, forgot to slip off the first loop and, as a result, I couldn’t make a beautiful braid along the edge. If you are not so good at knitting, then you definitely won’t make such an annoying mistake. Well, I’ve warned you now, just in case!
Plus, it's super warm. While I was knitting, the blanket became longer and longer and began to cover my legs. So, I was hot while I was knitting.
Some designs are beautiful, but not very functional. I just knitted the blanket, but I’ve already spent several wonderful evenings under it. There is a risk that I will stop getting out from under the blanket and out of the house, how cozy, warm and pleasant it is.
Another unexpected bonus: when you finally get out from under the blanket, the folded corner looks mega-photogenic. No special fancy layouts are needed. The blanket is voluminous, so it looks very solid. Beautiful photos on Instagram are guaranteed.
Original manufacturing technique
For many of us, the word “plaid” is associated with the rough checkered “bedspread” that adorned sofas in almost every apartment in Soviet times.
Blankets made from pure merino wool, knitted by hand in a very coarse knit, have nothing to do with these “bedspreads”. This is a modern, “trend” type of home textile that can bring home comfort and make the design exclusive. A large knitted blanket is just called a blanket. In fact, it is a man-made work of art. This item attracts attention at first glance and beckons you to wrap yourself up or lie on it. This blanket, unlike standard and familiar bedspreads and blankets, is weightless, despite its apparent bulk. It’s also so soft and airy that, wrapped in it, you feel like you’re in a warm and fluffy cloud.
Photo: surfingbird.ru
What material is needed for knitting.
The wool used for knitting is processed in a unique way, which allows you to achieve a feeling of barely noticeable negligence, a sort of thread fraying. Do you think it’s impossible to create giant loops from natural wool?! We assure you: your opinion is wrong! 100% sheep's wool is perfectly processed, so the loops come out smooth and even.
However, acrylic threads are not at all inferior in quality. And the price point for both materials, of course, differs significantly.
Delightful knitted bedspreads made of wool or acrylic will complement the interior of any room in the house, giving it a touch of country or Provence style. Huge loops form a rather delicate fabric. It can be classically austere or openly playful, and also look stylish and elegant. It all depends on the imagination of the creator.
Handmade is becoming more and more popular every day, and therefore it is wrong to think that knitting is the lot of only grandmothers. Not at all! The usual enlarged knitting of local tones is always a win-win.
A thick blanket of unusual knitting will decorate both an armchair in the living room and your bed in the bedroom, it will gently hug those who like to be alone with themselves, and for children it can easily become a rug: it is very comfortable to play on it when placed on the floor. The materials used for this knitting method are wear-resistant, so the blanket is quite suitable in any conditions. Even the most frisky kids, once in the cozy embrace of your blanket, will stop being capricious.
Man-made “works”, in fact, are quite original and stand out in the interior of the home, creating a memorable decor. It doesn’t even occur to you that you can knit cozy blankets yourself. It seems that these are some cool, inaccessible things from designers. And even more amazing are the ways in which such a miracle of warmth and comfort can be created.
